The following is a map unit description from the "Soil
Survey of Barnstable County, Massachusetts (Fletcher, 1993)"

CoC-Carver-Hinesburg loamy coarse sands,rolling.

These rolling, very deep, excessively drained and well drained
soils are on side slopes and hills in areas of glacial lake
deposits and ice-contact deposits. Slopes range from 8 to 15
percent. The soils make up about 0.3 percent (673 acres) of the
survey area. They are mapped mainly in the Carver-Hinesburg-Nantucket
general soil map unit. Areas are irregular in shape and generally
range from 5 to 100 acres in size. They are about 45 percent
Carver soil, 25 percent Hinesburg soil, and 30 percent other
soils. The soils occur as areas so intricately mixed or so small
that separating them in mapping is not practical.

Typically, the surface of the Carver soil is covered with an
organic layer. This layer is about 2 inches of loose,
undecomposed pine needles, leaves, and twigs and 1 inch of
matted, partly decomposed and well decomposed organic material.
The surface layer is light brownish gray, very friable loamy
coarse sand about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is coarse sand
about 33 inches thick. The upper 10 inches is strong brown and
very friable, the next 9 inches is yellowish brown and very
friable, and the lower 14 inches is brownish yellow and loose.
The substratum to a depth of 65 inches or more is light yellowish
brown, loose coarse sand.

Typically, the surface layer of the Hinesburg soil is dark
brown, very friable sandy loam about 1 0 inches thick. The
subsoil is about 22 inches thick. It is yellowish brown, very
friable loamy coarse sand in the upper 12 inches and light olive
brown, very friable loamy sand in the lower 10 inches. The
substratum extends to a depth of 65 inches or more. It may be
mottled. It is light brownish gray, friable fine sandy loam in
the upper 6 inches and light olive brown, firm sandy clay loam in
the lower part.

Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of
Hinckley, Nantucket, and Plymouth soils. Also included are small
areas where slopes are less than 8 percent or more than 15
percent, a few areas where stones are on the surface, and many
areas where the Hinesburg soil is underlain by sandy and gravelly
material below a depth of 60 inches. Included soils make up about
30 percent of this unit.

Permeability is very rapid in the subsoil and substratum of
the Carver soil. Available water capacity is very low. The soil
is droughty in late summer. Depth to the seasonal high water
table is more than 6 feet.

Permeability is rapid in the subsoil of the Hinesburg soil and
moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is
moderate. Depth to the seasonal high water table is generally
more than 6 feet. In some areas, however, a perched water table
is above the loamy and silty substratum in late fall, in winter
and spring, and after periods of heavy precipitation.

Most areas are used as woodland. Many areas have been
developed for homesites, and a few areas are farmed.

These soils are very poorly suited to cultivated crops. The
low available water capacity of the Carver soil and the
susceptibility to erosion are management concerns. Irrigation is
needed for most cultivated crops. Mixing plant residue and manure
into the surface layer increases the available water capacity.
Farming on the contour or across the slope, terracing,
stripcropping, including grasses and legumes in the crop
rotation, growing cover crops, and applying a system of
conservation tillage help to control runoff and erosion.

These soils are poorly suited to hay and pasture. The main
management objective is the prevention of overgrazing, which
reduces the hardiness and density of desirable plants. Proper
stocking rates, timely grazing, and restricted use during wet
periods help to maintain plant density and minimize surface
compaction.

Because of the droughtiness of the Carver soil, this map unit
is poorly suited to woodland. Thinning dense stands to standard
stocking levels results in more vigorous tree growth. Diseased,
deformed, and otherwise undesirable trees should be removed when
the stands are thinned. The most common trees are pitch pine,
white oak, scarlet oak,and white oak.

The slope is a limitation if these soils are used as sites for
buildings. Land shaping is generally needed. Buildings and lots
should be designed so that they conform to the natural slope of
the land. Erosion is a hazard during and after construction.
Planting well suited grasses as soon as possible after the
surface is disturbed minimizes the erosion hazard. The
droughtiness of the Carver soil is a limitation affecting lawns
and shallow-rooted trees and shrubs. Adding a layer of topsoil
and frequently watering during dry periods help to overcome this
limitation.

These soils are limited as sites for septic tank absorption
fields because the Carver soil may not adequately filter the
effluent and the Hinesburg soil does not readily absorb the
effluent. Because of the poor filtering capacity, the pollution
of ground water is a hazard. In areas where the Hinesburg soil is
underlain by sandy and gravelly material, excavations that extend
to this material generally can overcome the restricted
permeability. The slope is an additional limitation. It can be
overcome by installing the distribution lines on the contour.
Onsite investigation is needed to determine the suitability of a
given area and the measures needed to overcome the limitations.